Overview

The riveting, true-to-life account of survival, heroism and death in the elite Marine 3d Force Recon unit, one of one two Marine units to receive the Valorous Unit Citation during the Vietnam War. Doc Norton, leader of 3d Force Recon, recounts his team's experiences behind enemy lines during the tense patrols, sudden ambushes and acts of supreme sacrifice that occurred as they gathered valuable information about NVA operations right from the source.

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Overview

The riveting, true-to-life account of survival, heroism and death in the elite Marine 3d Force Recon unit, one of one two Marine units to receive the Valorous Unit Citation during the Vietnam War. Doc Norton, leader of 3d Force Recon, recounts his team's experiences behind enemy lines during the tense patrols, sudden ambushes and acts of supreme sacrifice that occurred as they gathered valuable information about NVA operations right from the source.

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Anonymous

Posted February 3, 2009

The best factual account of close combat during the Vietnam War!!!

As a junior in college, I have taken a course in the study of the Vietnam War. I asked my father, a Marine Vietnam Vet, what books he'd recommend I read, as a first-hand (no bullshit) account of what actually happened to the men who saw combat. Without a moment of hesitation he said, Read Doc Norton's books on Vietnam. He is, without question, the best primary source to read. He was a Navy Corpsman who served in 3rd Force Recon Company and he has written about a dozen books on Marines and our history. He will put you in the driver's seat, and you will become a part of his recon team as youu read what happened to him and his team mates when they went out on long-range patrols in the A Shau Valley. <BR/>My Dad was spot on! Force Recon Diary 1969 and Force Recon Diary, 1970, are the best books I have ever read about what the war experience was like. Why they have never made a movie out of these books is beyond me. They are incredible. If anyone wants to know what it was like, just read these two books. These Marines were only 20 years old, and what they did was unreal. Thier training is described in great detail, the fire-fights are described and the deaths of close friends are described, too. Major Norton has "been there and done that' and it is all captured in his telling the story of his two tours in Vietnam. I hope that he is writing and teaching still. He is a treasure for the Marine Corps. No one has detailed combat and the preparation for it, like he does. Just two great, well-written books. My Father and I salute him for his ability to write so well and tell the stories, without exaggeration and imbellishment. I can recommend that anyone intereseted in the truth, but these books.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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Anonymous

Posted August 21, 2004

REQUIRED READING FOR MARINES

I have read numerous 'first-hand' accounts of combat by different men in different wars, Force Recon Diary, 1969, stands at the top of my list for a true depiction of what life was like for Force Recon Marines in 1969 and 1970. This remarkable book is one of eight that that have been written by Maj. Bruce H. 'Doc' Norton, who served as a recon team corpsman during the Vietnam War. As a history teacher, and a veteran of that war, I can assure any reader that what they will receive is a 'no-nonsense' approach to what small unit leadership and combat was like for Norton and his fellow recon team members. I was taken along on the patrols with men like Bishop, Keaveney, and Silva, as Doc tells his story of successes and failures while trying to locate the North Vietnamese soldiers they hunted for two years. It was quite a journey. This is one of the very best books written by a veteran, who was wounded in combat and decorated for heroism on more than one occaision. Buy this book. You will not be able to put it down. Well written.

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Anonymous

Posted February 13, 2004

Where do we find men such as these?

Force Recon Diary, 1969 has been around for a while, but I must admit it is my favorite of all the books I have read about the Vietnam experience. Major Bruce H. Norton was a Navy corpsman who served with 3rd Force Recon Company as a team member in 1969 and 1970. He has taken great pain to accurately describe the missions that he and his fellow teammates; Bishop, Silva, Keaveney, Furhman and Murray, went on to seek out and kill the NVA. Major Norton has the ability to take the reader along for the ride, a what a ride it is! I have recommended this book to family, friends and students and I have never heard anything but praise for a book that 'tells it like it was.' What 6 young men, who were well-trained, can and did do is nothing short of remarkable. They don't speak of courage, patriotism or honor, they do it all by example. If the folks in Hollywood ever wanted to put a great, true story on the big screen this would be trhe one.Unfortunately the is no creativity left in LA, it's all remakes of the same garbage. They have no further to look than the books that Doc Norton has written about the Marine Corps.

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Anonymous

Posted October 20, 2003

GREAT

The book was well detailed I really appreciated the way he described his missions in good detail, I couldnt imagine how hard it was for him and his company, to go threw all of that trauma, well written

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